Taufik Kiemas goes back home

Bahrul Ilmi Yakub, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's husband, Taufik Kiemas, and his entourage arrived here on Tuesday to visit the victims of flooding in Pagaralam, his hometown, some 350 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Palembang.

The are was hit by floods on Thursday.

Also present in Taufik's entourage were Minister of Research and Technology Hatta Radjasa, Minister of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno, Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Alimarwan Hanan, Minister of Forestry Mohamad Prakosa and Minister of Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi and several legislators of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Besides pledging a personal donation, Taufik raised Rp 1.16 billion during a lunch with local officials and businessmen at South Sumatra Governor Rosihan Arsyad's official residence in the city prior to their departure to Pagaralam on Tuesday.

"The funds will be handed over in full to the Pagaralam administration to be distributed to the flood victims," he said.

He declined to reveal the amount he would donate to the flood victims.

The governor has donated Rp 20 million.

The death toll has reached 22 in Kerinjing and several other villages in Pagaralam. Hundreds of locals whose houses were flooded are still taking refuge in nearby villages.

Sources at the local administration said Taufik would visit his home village of Tanjung Raman, which was also flooded, and visit his ancestors' graves there.

Separately, Lahat Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Setyadi said on Tuesday that humanitarian assistance for flood victims was being flown in from numerous parties inside and outside the province.